Follow TSS on Twitter @TheStudentSect
The lifespan of these pieces is almost done, so you’re welcome. Once the CFB Playoff committee starts doing their thing and we question their sobriety every week, we can go into full on playoff prediction mode. We’re also getting to the point where simple wins and losses aren’t going to hack it without some opinion based loosely on facts, which is how we all love our opinions these days.
At any rate, five teams hurt themselves again more than any others, and here they are.
5. Northwestern
It’d have taken an act of God or some sort of malfeasance from all schools without academic restrictions to get them in as it is, but getting kicked in the teeth 38-0 by anyone means your playoff hopes are done. Granted, the ‘Cats can still have a season that’s probably above their internal expectations, but as far as playoff things go, they were shown the door sometime in the first half against Michigan.
4. Florida
Yes, I know, the Gators won, but me slacking on this column has seen Will Grier suspended for the season and that’s a big blow. He was an excellent story this year, and hell, I personally was really impressed. That and a $3.00 will almost get you a gallon of gas, but still, the offense really had come together. They can still survive, obviously, but losing a key leader to a suspension is like having to go to the bathroom really, really bad … and then you sit down and can’t go for the life of you.
3. Oklahoma
In theory, it’s not a death blow, losing to Texas, but how the heck are the Longhorns 6-2 as an unranked team versus a ranked Oklahoma? Wait … I actually know. Oklahoma plays to the level of whomever they’re playing against, which is a blessing and a curse. That’s a coaching culture thing, not a player thing. At any rate, they’ll need to win out and such.
2. Southern California
Man, what a mess. Honestly, you just hope for the best and wish it wouldn’t have gotten to this place. It’s crass to say things like, “Pat Haden had to know” but “Pat Haden had to know” and at that point, should have said that he was going to get Steve Sarkisian the help he needed behind closed doors so it didn’t leak out to the media and ruin him, but if he didn’t comply, he’d have to be fired. At that point, the reasoning for the firing would have come out. No one wins, here, but certainly USC loses on a lot of fronts.
1. Georgia
Even winning out, UGA is done in terms of the playoff race. You can’t get destroyed at home by Alabama and then follow it up with losing at Tennessee late, which is like going into an audition for a Lifetime movie and being told, “you really can’t act, and we mostly only employ people who really can’t act … but you’re on another level.” Hopefully, Nick Chubb just heals well and quickly. Enough, though, with the, “don’t click on this link to see this injury if you want to hold down your lunch.” Have a little more sack than than, everyone.
